Pakistan needs to do more to combat terror: US

MUMBAI: The US on Tuesday said it is cooperating at the highest level to provide India access to 26/11 accused David Headley even as it maintained Pakistan has to do more to fight terror.

"We work together in historic ways on providing access to people like David Headley where the US is cooperating at the highest level to eventually provide access to this person who helped pull off the savagery of the attack on Mumbai on 26/11," US Ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer told reporters after paying tributes to the 26/11 attack martyrs at Marine Drive here.

"We have been providing indirect access to sharing intelligence for months about that acquired information and now the door is open. The opportunity is there for India in the weeks ahead to get direct access in the appropriate way and appropriate time to David Headley," Roemer said.

Acknowledging Pakistan's contribution to fight against terror, he, however, said Islamabad needs to do a lot more to combat the menace.

"Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's comments underscore that while Pakistan has done a lot (to fight terror), they need to do more," he said.

To a query about India's concerns over alleged diversion of US aid to Pakistan to fund terror activities directed against the country, Roemer said, "We will ensure that the US aid to Pakistan is used in an appropriate manner."

On the scheduled meeting of foreign ministers of India and Pakistan in mid-July, he said "it is important that India and Pakistan talk."

"President (Barack) Obama requested me that we show respect to the great people of India, to the 18 police officers who gave lives for their country," Roemer said, explaining the reason for his visit to the 26/11 martyrs' memorial, erected outside the Police Gymkhana.

Roemer said two policemen had laid down their lives in the US while protecting those working at the Capitol Hill during an attack. India is one of the most indispensable allies to the United States, Roemer said.

"When we sought access to 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, we could not get it," he said, apparently referring to how difficult at times it was to secure access to those accused of involvement in international terror plots.

Roemer also spoke of his interaction with residents of Dharavi slum in central Mumbai.